Chorley Champ greets games baton

3:52pm Wednesday 4th June 2014

Reigning world squash champion and Commonwealth Games medal hope Laura Massaro welcomed the Queen’s Baton into Manchester last weekend as it arrived in England ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Laura Massaro, who is from Chorley, greeted the baton at the National Squash Centre, the home to the 2002 Commonwealth Games, as the relay started its first day in England on Saturday.

The National Squash Centre was bustling with activity as juniors, club players and local residents all enjoyed a morning of free squash and racketball before meeting local heroine Massaro.

Massaro said: “It’s an honour to be part of the Queen’s Baton Relay, especially as I was so inspired by the 2002 Games here in Manchester as a young professional.

“The National Squash Centre is a lasting legacy of the Games and it has helped so many people. I train here a couple of times a week alongside school programmes, community sessions and academy players,” she added.